Streetcars return to Salt Lake City, Dec. 8

The first streetcar to travel Utah's streets in more than 50 years will be open for service starting December 8, 2013.

The S Line was named in honor of the streetcar's two founding cities, Salt Lake and South Salt Lake, as well as the Sugar House neighborhood it calls home. S Line cars will feature a distinctive white and silver design that reflects the area's industrial heritage.

"This is no ordinary rail line," said South Salt Lake City Mayor Cherie Wood. "This represents a piece of the city's industrial history that we are all so proud of."

The S Line cars will be the same Siemens S70 cars used on TRAX lines, although they will run as single cars and will operate at speeds of 20 mph or less. The decision allows the Utah Transit Authority to save money by utilizing the same maintenance facilities for TRAX and the S Line.

The streetcar will feature seven stops and will run from the heart of Sugar House's shopping district to the Central Pointe Station, where riders can connect with TRAX. The S Line corridor will feature a landscaped linear park with a walking and biking path that connects to Parley's Trail.

Testing will begin next week to allow for operator training and signal and traffic light testing.